Retractable under slide panel for disabled snowmobiles

ABSTRACT

An elongated sheet of flexible material stored in a compact rolled state at one end of a snowmobile upon a reel provided for supporting and winding the sheet of flexible material. The reel is positioned slightly endwise outwardly and above the adjacent end of the endless track of the associated snowmobile and the strip or panel of flexible material wound on the reel may be unwound from the latter, passed lengthwise beneath the lower reach of the endless track of the snowmobile and anchored to the remote end of the snowmobile. The panel is of a width adapted to span the entire transverse extent of the associated endless track and thereby is operative to form a smooth undersurface for that portion of the associated snowmobile normally occupied by the lower reach of the endless track assembly of the snowmobile. This smooth undersurface enables the snowmobile, when disabled and when the flexible panel is disposed in operative position, to be readily manually pushed or towed behind another snowmobile or similar vehicle.

United States Patent [191 Losier March 6, 1973 ['75 Inventor: JosephGustave Losier, New Brunswick, Canada [731 Assignees: Joseph RenaldLosier, Tracadie, New Brunswick; Nicholas Dellelce, Sudbury, Ontario,Canada 22 Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 21 Appl.No.:1l6,497

[52] US. Cl. ..180/5 R, 280/19 [51] Int. Cl ..B62b 15/00, B62m 27/02[58] Field of Search ..280/19; 180/5 R [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,563,562 2/1971 Carlin ..280/19 PrimaryExaminer-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Robert R. SongAttorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacob- Son [5 7] ABSTRACT Anelongated sheet of flexible material stored in a compact rolled state atone end of a snowmobile upon a reel provided for supporting and windingthe sheet of flexible material. The reel is positioned slightly endwiseoutwardly and above the adjacent end of the endless track of theassociated snowmobile and the strip or panel of flexible material woundon the reel may be unwound from the latter, passed lengthwise beneaththe lower reach of the endless track of the snowmobile and anchored tothe remote end of the snowmobile. The panel is of a width adapted tospan the entire transverse extent of the associated endless track andthereby is operative to form a smooth undersurface for that portion ofthe associated snowmobile normally occupied by the lower reach of theendless track assembly of the snowmobile. This smooth undersurfaceenables the snowmobile, when disabled and when the flexible panel isdisposed in operative position, to be readily manually pushed or towedbehind another snowmobile or similar vehicle.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED 61373 3.719243 Joseph Gus/aveLosier PATENTED 61975 3,719,243

sum 20F 2 Joseph Gus/ave Losier [NI 'ENTOK.

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RETRACTABLE UNDER SLIDE PANEL FOR DISABLED SNOWMOBILES The instantinvention includes the provision of a simple, and inexpensive attachmentfor snowmobiles that may be utilized in rendering a disabled snowmobileto be more easily towed or pushed over snow covered surfaces. Theattachment includes structural features adapting it for securement toand use in conjunction with substantially all makes of snowmobilespresently being produced and it may also serve the purpose of providinga means in preventing the lower reach of the endless track of asnowmobile which is not being used, at least temporarily, from becomingfrozen to the snow covered ground upon which the snowmobile rests.

While snowmobiles are becoming more reliable there is still the everpresent chance that a malfunction of some mechanical component of asnowmobile will render it incapable of being propelled under its ownpower. Should this occur while some distance from a conventional vehicleupon which the snowmobile may be loaded and transported to a point ofrepair, considerable difficulty is encountered in pushing, dragging ortowing such a disabled snowmobile to a location upon which it may beloaded upon a conventional vehicle for transportation to a repair shop.Further, even through other snowmobiles may be present which may beutilized to tow a disabled snowmobile, if the malfunction of thedisabled snowmobile is such that the endless track assembly isimmovable, there are some snow conditions which would prevent anoperative snowmobile from obtaining sufiicient traction to tow such adisabled snowmobile.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide aninexpensive attachment for snowmobiles which may be carried on anassociated snowmobile in a compact stored condition and yet which may beutilized to render even a disabled snowmobile having an immovableendless track assembly capable of being readily pushed or towed oversnow covered surfaces.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide an elongated flexible panel attachmentfor a snowmobile which may be secured lengthwise beneath the endlesstrack of a disabled snowmobile so as to present a smooth undersurfacecapable of readily sliding over snow covered surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment inaccordance with the preceding objects including a winding reel mountedon the associated snowmobile in an unobtrusive position for winding theelongated flexible panel portion of the attachment thereon whereby thepanel portion may be retained in a compact stored condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an attachmentconstructed in a manner whereby it may be readily extended from itsstored position to an operative position by a single person having onlythe necessary strength to tilt a snowmobile on its side.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an attachmentfor a snowmobile capable of preventing the lower reach of the endlesstrack of the snowmobile from freezing to the ground.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional form of snowmobilewith the attachment of the instant invention supported therefrom anddisposed in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1with a portion of the panel portion of the attachment broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the snowmobileillustrating the manner in which the panel portion of the attachment maybe rolled upon the reel portion of the attachment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse longitudinal vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a further fragmentary rear perspective view of the snowmobilewith the attachment of the instant invention disposed in a compactstored condition; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the panel portion of the attachment with thecentral portion thereof being broken away.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a conventional form of snowmobile including a pairof opposite side front dirigible skis l2 and a central longitudinallyextending rear endless track structure referred to in general by thereference numeral 14.

The endless track structure 14 includes a pair of rear idler sprockets16, a pair of forward opposite side drive sprockets (not shown) and aplurality of bogie-type idler wheels 18. Theforward drive sprockets areof course powered by an engine (not shown) housed in the forward bodyportion of the snowmobile 10. An endless track assembly 20 is entrainedabout the rear sprockets 16, the front sprockets and the idler or bogiewheels 18 and the track assembly includes a lower reach 22 as well as anupper reach 24.

The snowmobile 10 includes a body 26 provided with a pair of dependingopposite sides 28 and 30 which extend longitudinally throughoutapproximately the rear two-thirds of the body 26 and the upper reach 24of the endless track assembly 20 is received between the sides 28 and30. A pair of opposite side rear springs 32 are provided and operativelyconnected to the rear idler sprockets 16 to maintain proper tension onthe endless track assembly 20 and the springs 32 include upwardlyextending arms 34 to be referred to hereinafter.

The attachment of the instant invention is referred to in general by thereference numeral 36 and includes a reel or winding roller 38 joumaledbetween the rear ends of the sides 28 and 30. The winding roller isjournaled from the side 28 by means of a fastener 40 secured through theside 28 and in the adjacent end of the roller 38 and the end of theroller 38 remote from the side 28 is joumaled through an opening 42formed in the side 30. The extended end 44 of the roller 38 includes anon-circular blind bore 46 and a transverse bore 48. A crank 50 isprovided and includes a handle end 52 and a drive end 54. The ends 52and 54 generally parallel each other and are connected by means of agenerally right angled lever arm 56 extending therebetween. Further, thedrive end includes a non-circular terminal end 58 which is receivable ina non-circular blind bore 46. In addition, the drive end 54 includingthe terminal end 58 is receivable through the transverse bore 48 and aspring-type anchor clip 60 is secured to the side 30 in any convenientmanner.

When it is desired to retain the roller or reel 38 in position againstrotation, the drive end 54 of the crank 50 is inserted through thetransverse bore 48 and the handle end 52 is anchored in the anchor clip60, see FIG. 6. However, when it is desired to utilize the crank 50 forturning the roller or reel 38, the handle end 52 is disengaged from theanchor clip 60, the drive end 54 is withdrawn from the transverse bore48 and the terminal end 58 is inserted in the blind bore 46 whosecross-sectional shape is complementary to the crosssectional shape ofthe terminal end 58.

One end edge portion 62 of a flexible panel 64 is secured to the windingreel or roller 38 by means of an anchor strap 66 and suitable fasteners68. The other end of the panel 64 is secured to an adjacent end of alonger sheet metal panel 70 by means of suitable fasteners 72 and theremote end of the sheet metal panel 70 has a reinforcing strip 74secured thereto by means of suitable fasteners 76 and corresponding endsof similar tension springs 78 are anchored to the reinforcing strip 74and have a first pair of ends of a pair of link chain sections 80anchored to their other ends, the free ends of the link chain sections80 being provided with hook members 82 for a purpose to be hereinaftercompact state, the hooks 82 are engaged with the aforementioned arms 34of the springs 32 and the lever may be secured in the position thereofillustrated in FIG. 6 in order to retain the winding reel or roller 38against rotation and to thus maintain the panels 64 and 70 tightly woundon the winding reel or roller 38.

On the other hand, should the endless track assembly 20 of thesnowmobile 10 become immobilized and it is therefore necessary to slidethe snowmobile 10 over the ground either by manual force or by pullingbehind another snowmobile, the snowmobile 10 is first rolled on its leftside after which the lever 50 may be disengaged from the anchor clip andthe winding reel 38. Then, the hooks 82 are disengaged from the arms 34and the sheet metal panel 70 is unwound from the winding reel or roller38 and passed beneath the lower reach 22 of the endless track assembly.The free ends of the link chain section 70 may then be passed about thefront bumper 86 of the snowmobile 10 and the books 82 may be engagedwith the ends of the link chain sections 80 adjacent the tension springs78. Thereafter, the crank 50 has its terminal end 58 seated in the blindbore 46 and the crank 50 is utilized to wind at least the base end ofthe panel 64 back onto the winding reel or roller 38 so as to tensionthe panels 64 and and at least slightly stretch the tension springs 78.Then, the lever 50 may be secured in the position thereof illustrated inFIG. 6 of the drawings so as to maintain the panels 64 and 70 in atensioned condition. If it is desired, final tensioning of the panels 64and 70 by winding the base end of the panel 64 on the winding reel orroller 38 may be accomplished while the drive end 54 of the crank 50 ispassed through the transverse bore 48 thereby enabling the handle end 52of the crank 50 to be more readily engaged with the anchor clip 60.

After the sheet metal panel has thus been positioned beneath the lowerreach 22 of the endless track assembly 20, the snowmobile 10 may then berighted and easily slid over a snow covered surface, either by hand orby pulling behind another snowmobile or other vehicle.

The attachment 36 is also useful when it is desired to prevent the lowerreach of the endless track 20 from freezing to the ground during periodsof non-use of the snowmobile 10. When use of the snowmobile 10 hasterminated, the attachment 36 may be placed in the operative positionjust as though the snowmobile 10 had been disabled and while theundersurface of the panel 70 may have a tendency to freeze to theground, inasmuch as this undersurface is extremely smooth the snowmobile10 may more readily be broken from the ground by tilting the snowmobileon its left side, as would be done before the attachment 36 could beplaced in its compact stored condition. If the upper surface of thesheet metal panel 70 is frozen to the lower reach 22 of the endlesstrack assembly 20 after the panel 70 has been dislodged from frozenground, the sheet metal panel 70 may be readily peeled from the lowerreach of the endless track assembly 20 before it is wound into itscompact state. Thus, the very frustrating experience of having theendless track assembly of the snowmobile freeze to the ground may beavoided by utilizing the attachment 36 of the instant invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a snowmobile of the type including at least onedriven endless track assembly provided with upper and lower reaches, aslide attachment for the endless track assembly, said attachmentcomprising an elongated panel of flexible material disposed lengthwisebeneath the lower reach of the endless track assembly, the opposite endsof the elongated panel being stationarily anchored relative to theopposite ends of the endless track assembly, said snowmobile definingdepending opposite side portions adjacent and between which one end ofthe endless track assembly is received, a winding member journaledbetween said opposite side portions for rotation about a horizontaltransverse axis, one end of said elongated panel being operativelyconnected to said winding member for winding thereon and unwindingtherefrom, said snowmobile further including a body portion adjacent theother end of the endless track assembly, the other end of said elongatedpanel and the last-mentioned body portion including coacting meansreleasably anchoring said other end of said elongated panel to saidlast-mentioned body portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the width of said elongated panelis substantially equal to the width of the endless track assembly.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said snowmobile and attachmentinclude means for releasably securing said elongated panel beneath saidlower reach in a lengthwise tensioned condition.

4. The combination of claim 1 including crank means operativelyassociated with said winding member and disposed outwardly of one ofsaid side portions for manually imparting rotation thereto.

5; The combination of claim 4 wherein said crank means and windingmember include coacting means for selectively supporting said crank fromsaid winding member in first and second positions for manually rotatingsaid winding member and retaining said windin g member against rotationrelative to said body portion, respectively, said crank means and saidbody portion including coacting means, when said crank means is in saidsecond position, for releasably anchoring said crank to said bodyportion against swinging about said axis.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means includestension springs interposed between said body portion and said other endof said panel member.

7. The method of preventing the lower reach of the endless trackassembly of a snowmobile from freezing to the ground, said methodcomprising the steps of tilting the snowmobile over on one of its sides,lengthwise unreeling one end portion of a reversely bendable elongatedflexible panel from a winding member journalled transversely of thesnowmobile at one end of the endless track assembly and upon which thepanel is wound, passing the one end portion of the panel member alongthe lower reach of the endless track assembly past the opposite endthereof, anchoring the one end portion of the panel to the snowmobile,winding any excess length of panel unwound from said winding member backonto the latter to tension the panel member, and thereafter tilting thesnowmobile back to an upright position.

1. In combination with a snowmobile of the type including at least onedriven endless track assembly provided with upper and lower reaches, aslide attachment for the endless track assembly, said attachmentcomprising an elongated panel of flexible material disposed lengthwisebeneath the lower reach of the endless track assembly, the opposite endsof the elongated panel being stationarily anchored relative to theopposite ends of the endless track assembly, said snowmobile definingdepending opposite side portions adjacent and between which one end ofthe endless track assembly is received, a winding member journaledbetween said opposite side portions for rotation about a horizontaltransverse axis, one end of said elongated panel being operativelyconnected to said winding member for winding thereon and unwindingtherefrom, said snowmobile further including a body portion adjacent theother end of the endless track assembly, the other end of said elongatedpanel and the last-mentioned body portion including coacting meansreleasably anchoring said other end of said elongated panel to saidlast-mentioned body portion.
 1. In combination with a snowmobile of thetype including at least one driven endless track assembly provided withupper and lower reaches, a slide attachment for the endless trackassembly, said attachment comprising an elongated panel of flexiblematerial disposed lengthwise beneath the lower reach of the endlesstrack assembly, the opposite ends of the elongated panel beingstationarily anchored relative to the opposite ends of the endless trackassembly, said snowmobile defining depending opposite side portionsadjacent and between which one end of the endless track assembly isreceived, a winding member journaled between said opposite side portionsfor rotation about a horizontal transverse axis, one end of saidelongated panel being operatively connected to said winding member forwinding thereon and unwinding therefrom, said snowmobile furtherincluding a body portion adjacent the other end of the endless trackassembly, the other end of said elongated panel and the last-mentionedbody portion including coacting means releasably anchoring said otherend of said elongated panel to said last-mentioned body portion.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the width of said elongated panel issubstantially equal to the width of the endless track assembly.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said snowmobile and attachment includemeans for releasably securing said elongated panel beneath said lowerreach in a lengthwise tensioned condition.
 4. The combination of claim 1including crank means operatively associated with said winding memberand disposed outwardly of one of said side portions for manuallyimparting rotation thereto.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein saidcrank means and winding member include coacting means for selectivelysupporting said crank from said winding member in first and secondpositions for manually rotating said winding member and retaining saidwinding member against rotation relative to said body portion,respectively, said crank means and said body portion includinG coactingmeans, when said crank means is in said second position, for releasablyanchoring said crank to said body portion against swinging about saidaxis.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means includestension springs interposed between said body portion and said other endof said panel member.